Formation evaluation system and method

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for evaluating a fluid from a subterranean formation of a wellsite via a downhole tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation are provided. The apparatus relates to a downhole tool having a probe with at least two intakes for receiving fluid from the subterranean formation. The downhole tool is configured according to a wellsite set up. The method involves positioning the downhole tool in the wellbore of the wellsite, drawing fluid into the downhole tool via the at least two intakes, monitoring at least one wellsite parameter via at least one sensor of the wellsite and automatically adjusting the wellsite setup based on the wellsite parameters.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a downhole tool configured for conveyance within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, the downhole tool comprising:
 a fluid sampling system configured to draw fluid from the formation into the downhole tool; 
 a fluid monitoring device in communication with at least a portion of the fluid drawn into the downhole tool through the fluid sampling system, wherein the fluid monitoring device is configured to generate a signal indicative of a characteristic of the fluid; and 
 a controller configured to process the signal to estimate a level of contamination in the fluid and automatically generate a control signal when the estimated level of contamination meets a predetermined value. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the fluid monitoring device is a first fluid monitoring device; 
 the characteristic of the fluid is a first characteristic of the fluid; 
 the signal is a first signal indicative of the first characteristic of the fluid; 
 the downhole tool further comprises a second fluid monitoring device in communication with at least a portion of the fluid drawn into the downhole tool through the fluid sampling system; 
 the second fluid monitoring device is configured to generate a second signal indicative of a second characteristic of the fluid; and 
 the controller is configured to process the first and second signals to estimate the level of contamination in the fluid and generate the control signal when the estimated level of contamination meets the predetermined value. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fluid monitoring device is configured to estimate an optical characteristic of the fluid. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fluid monitoring device is configured to estimate an electrical characteristic of the fluid. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fluid monitoring device is configured to estimate at least one of a resistivity characteristic of the fluid, a capacitance characteristic of the fluid, and a dielectric characteristic of the fluid. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fluid monitoring device is configured to estimate a physical characteristic of the fluid. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fluid monitoring device is configured to estimate at least one of viscosity, pressure, temperature, and density of the fluid. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fluid monitoring device comprises one or more of a chemical test device, a fluid compositional analysis device, a pH test device, a salinity test device, and a carbon test device. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fluid monitoring device comprises a plurality of devices for estimating a combination of at least two of an optical characteristic, an electrical characteristic, a physical characteristic and a chemical characteristic of the fluid. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the downhole tool further comprises a sample chamber configured to received formation fluid drawn into the tool after the estimated level of contamination meets the predetermined value. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the downhole tool further comprises one or more flow control devices configured to receive control instructions from the controller. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the downhole tool further comprises a sample chamber, and wherein the control signal actuates the one or more flow control devices to direct fluid having a level of contamination at about or below the predetermined value to the sample chamber. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fluid sampling system is configured to be adjusted for a clean-up process. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fluid sampling system generates a flow within a cylindrical wall surrounding a channel. 
     
     
       15. A method, comprising:
 conveying a downhole tool within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation; 
 operating a fluid sampling system of the downhole tool to draw fluid from the formation into the downhole tool; 
 generating a signal indicative of a fluid characteristic of the fluid drawn into the downhole tool through the fluid sampling system, wherein generating the signal uses a fluid monitoring device in communication with at least a portion of the fluid drawn into the downhole tool; 
 processing the signal using a controller in the downhole tool to estimate a level of contamination in the fluid; and 
 generating a control signal in the downhole tool automatically when the estimated level of contamination meets a predetermined value. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  wherein:
 the fluid monitoring device is a first fluid monitoring device; 
 the characteristic of the fluid is a first characteristic of the fluid; 
 the signal is a first signal indicative of the first characteristic of the fluid; 
 the method further comprises generating a second signal indicative of a second characteristic of the fluid drawn into the downhole tool through the fluid sampling system, wherein generating the second signal uses a second fluid monitoring device in communication with at least a portion of the fluid drawn into the downhole tool; and 
 processing the signal comprises processing the first and second signals using the controller to estimate the level of contamination in the fluid. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15  wherein the fluid characteristic is one of an optical characteristic, an electrical characteristic, a physical characteristic, and a chemical characteristic of the fluid. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15  further comprising collecting a sampling of the formation fluid in a sample chamber in response to the control signal. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15  further comprising actuating one or more flow control devices in response to the control signal. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15  wherein operating the fluid sampling system generates a flow within a cylindrical wall surrounding a channel.